Safety Critical · 11 checks

Fire Stopping
QA inspection checklist

Fire stopping installation quality audit.

Every check below carries what good looks like, when it passes, the standard it comes from and the defects that usually fail it. That guidance is what turns a tick-box into an inspection.

Penetration Seals

  1. 1.
    All penetrations identified and sealed
    What to look forEvery service penetration (pipes, ducts, cables, conduit, structural openings) through fire-rated walls and floors identified on a tracker / log. Each one sealed before sign-off. Cross-checked against fire compartmentation drawings.
    Acceptable whenPer Approved Document B / BS 9999: all penetrations through compartment walls / floors sealed to maintain compartment fire rating (typically 30, 60, 120 min). Tracker / register held by Principal Contractor.
    StandardBS 9999:2017 — Fire safety in buildings. Approved Document B (Fire). BS 9991 (residential).
    Common defectsPenetration left open — fire spreads through compartmentNo tracker — penetrations missedSealing only on one side of wallSealing made by non-FIRAS / IFC-installerCompartmentation drawings not on site
  2. 2.
    Correct system for penetration type
    What to look forSealing system matched to penetration: intumescent collar / wrap on plastic pipe; mortar / fire batt on cable bundle; mineral wool + sealant on small openings; expanding foam (intumescent) on wall gaps. System tested per BS EN 1366-3 for application.
    Acceptable whenPer BS EN 1366-3 / ETA / ASFP "Blue Book": fire stopping system tested for the specific configuration — pipe / cable / duct / wall material / wall thickness / fire rating. Manufacturer ETA covers application.
    StandardBS EN 1366-3:2009 — Fire resistance tests for service penetrations. ASFP "Blue Book" — Fire-resistant ductwork and fire stopping. ETA assessments.
    Common defectsSealant alone on plastic pipe — no intumescent, fire passesGeneric foam used — not fire-testedSystem not tested for the substrate (wall type)Pipe size outside ETA scopeCombustible insulation around pipe inside seal
  3. 3.
    Installation matches tested configuration
    What to look forInstalled configuration matches the tested configuration in the manufacturer ETA. Wall thickness, sealing depth, annular gap, supplementary requirements (e.g. shroud, second collar) per ETA. Photo record per penetration.
    Acceptable whenPer BS EN 1366-3 / ETA: installation must replicate test — substrate, depth, spacing, ancillary materials. Photographic evidence at each penetration. Deviation = no fire rating.
    StandardBS EN 1366-3:2009. ASFP "Blue Book". Manufacturer ETA.
    Common defectsWall thickness less than ETA — rating not achievedSealing depth less than ETAMultiple services in same opening but ETA covers singleSubstrate (e.g. drywall) not in ETANo photo of each install — cannot verify
  4. 4.
    Fire stop labels installed
    What to look forEach penetration labelled on either side of wall / floor. Label shows installer, date, system reference, fire rating, ETA number. Permanent label material (vinyl, engraved). Cross-references the fire stopping log.
    Acceptable whenPer ASFP / FIRAS / IFC scheme requirements: label per penetration with installer ID, date, system, rating, and unique reference. Cross-reference to log / register.
    StandardASFP — Fire Stopping Best Practice. FIRAS / IFC Certificated Installer schemes. Approved Document B.
    Common defectsLabel missing — no traceabilityLabel hand-written, fadesLabel with only company name, no ETA / ratingMultiple labels not unique — same referenceLabel only on one side of wall
  5. 5.
    No gaps or incomplete seals
    What to look forVisual inspection — no gaps, voids, or shrinkage. Annular space around pipe fully filled. Seal fully recessed into opening (not overlay). No tooling marks pulling sealant away. No air gaps when probed.
    Acceptable whenPer BS EN 1366-3 / ASFP: seal continuous and full-depth; gap-free; no movement of sealant after cure. Probe test or visual inspection.
    StandardBS EN 1366-3:2009. ASFP "Blue Book".
    Common defectsSealant only at face — depth not filledShrinkage cracks after cureAir gap behind sealantSealant pulled by trowel away from substrateMortar disbonded — taps loose

Cavity Barriers & Dampers

  1. 6.
    Cavity barriers at all required locations
    What to look forCavity barriers at compartment lines (vertical and horizontal), at junctions of compartment walls with cavity walls, at top of cavities, around openings (windows, doors), in roof voids and floor zones. Material per design (mineral wool, intumescent strip).
    Acceptable whenPer Approved Document B Section 9 / BS 9999: cavity barriers at compartment lines, at maximum spacing per ADB Table 9.1 (typically 20 m horizontal residential; 8 m roof), around openings.
    StandardApproved Document B. BS 9999:2017. BS 9991:2015 (residential).
    Common defectsCavity barrier missing at compartment lineSpacing exceeds ADB Table 9.1No barrier around windows / doorsCombustible cavity barrier in higher-risk buildingBarrier compressed or fallen
  2. 7.
    Fire dampers installed and accessible
    What to look forFire dampers at every duct penetration of fire-rated wall / floor / ceiling. Damper body cast / built into structure with manufacturer install kit. Access panel adjacent for testing. Drop test or actuator linkage operates.
    Acceptable whenPer BS EN 15650 / BS EN 1366-2 / BS 9999: fire damper rated to match wall (E60, EI60, EI120 etc.); installed per tested configuration; access within 300 mm of damper.
    StandardBS EN 15650:2010. BS EN 1366-2:2015. BS 9999:2017. ASFP Blue Book.
    Common defectsDamper installed in non-fire-rated wall — no compartmentationRefractory packing missing — fire bypass at frameNo access panel — cannot drop-testDamper blade tied open during install — left tiedWrong damper rating
  3. 8.
    Intumescent strips fitted to fire doors
    What to look forIntumescent and smoke seals fitted to fire door head and jambs (and on frame for some products). Continuous around perimeter. Manufacturer matches door certification. Smoke seal (cold seal) for FD30s / FD60s. No interruption from hardware.
    Acceptable whenPer BS 8214 / Approved Document B / door manufacturer certification: intumescent ≥ 15 mm thick (typical 20 × 4 mm) for FD30, larger for FD60+. Smoke seals for "s" suffix doors. Per door / manufacturer test.
    StandardBS 8214:2016 — Code of practice for fire door assemblies. BS EN 1634-1 (testing). BS 476-22 (UK testing).
    Common defectsNo intumescent — door rating not achievedSmoke seal omitted on FD30s doorStrip cut for hardware — interruptedWrong manufacturer — door cert invalidatedStrip flush with surface, not in groove

Certification

  1. 9.
    Third-party certification provided
    What to look forInstaller holds FIRAS, IFC Certification, BM TRADA Q-Mark, or equivalent third-party certification for fire stopping. Certificate covers the work scope. Per-job inspection certificates issued. Client receives evidence.
    Acceptable whenPer Hackitt Review / Building Safety Act 2022: third-party certified installers expected for HRBs (high-rise residential). FIRAS / IFC scheme covers operative competence. Per-installation certificate issued.
    StandardBuilding Safety Act 2022. FIRAS / IFC / BM TRADA scheme rules. ASFP Best Practice.
    Common defectsInstaller not certified — competence questionedCertificate covers only some scopePer-installation certificate missingCertificate expiredNo client sign-off
  2. 10.
    Photographic record complete
    What to look forPhotographs of every penetration before, during, and after sealing. Shows installer, location, ETA reference, materials used. Stored in digital register cross-referenced to floor plans. Provided in O&M.
    Acceptable whenPer ASFP / Building Safety Act / Golden Thread (HRBs): full photographic record per penetration; geo-located if possible; matched to fire stopping log. Stored for life of building.
    StandardBuilding Safety Act 2022 (Golden Thread of Information). ASFP Best Practice.
    Common defectsPhotos missing — cannot verifyPhotos undated / unlocatedFinal-only photo — process not documentedRecords lost between contractor and clientNo format for digital sharing
  3. 11.
    Fire stopping log up to date
    What to look forFire stopping log lists every penetration with location, system, rating, installer, date, and inspection sign-off. Updated through the project. Final version handed to client / Responsible Person. Used as part of Golden Thread for HRBs.
    Acceptable whenPer ASFP / Building Safety Act 2022: log mandatory for HRBs (Golden Thread); recommended for all premises with FRA-based compartmentation. Living document maintained through occupation.
    StandardBuilding Safety Act 2022. Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 (FSO). ASFP Best Practice.
    Common defectsLog missing or incompleteNot updated when modifications madeNo handover to Responsible PersonLog not aligned to compartmentation drawingsSign-offs missing

Questions people ask

What is a fire stopping QA inspection for?

To record that the work was checked against the specification before it was covered up or handed over: a pass or fail against each item, a measurement where one matters, and a photo where it failed. It is the evidence a client's quantity surveyor or clerk of works asks for, and the thing that settles the argument at final account.

What standards does this checklist check against?

Each item names its reference. On this checklist that includes BS 9999:2017, BS EN 1366-3:2009, BS EN 1366-3:2009. ASFP "Blue Book". Manufacturer ETA., ASFP, BS EN 1366-3:2009. ASFP "Blue Book"., Approved Document B. BS 9999:2017. BS 9991:2015 (residential).. The contract specification and the approved drawings always take precedence over a general standard; where they say something stricter, inspect to that.

Who signs a QA inspection off?

The person who carried out the check, named and dated, and where the contract calls for it the client's representative as a witness. The signature records that the check was done and what was found. It is not a warranty of the work.

How many items are on it, and do I have to use them all?

11 checks across 3 sections. Delete what does not apply to the job and add anything the specification asks for that is not here. A checklist that has plainly been thought about carries more weight than a long one nobody read.

Is this useful for a subcontractor as well as a main contractor?

More so. The subcontractor is the one who gets asked to come back and open something up. A signed inspection sheet with photos at the time is the cheapest insurance on a construction site.

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